Mike Gittleson, MS

A pioneer in the field, Mike Gittleson spent thirty seasons as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Michigan’s football program. He was appointed the athletic department’s first strength and conditioning coach in 1978. Gittleson was recognized by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society as the 2003 National Collegiate Football Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.

Gittleson maintained the overall training and conditioning of the football program in one of the finest facilities in the country. He developed a unique and scientific approach to Michigan’s conditioning program, tailoring each program to the individual player in order to provide the maximum physical output and the prevention of injuries.

A native of Manchester, N.H., Gittleson earned degrees from the University of New Hampshire (1975) and Plymouth State College (1977). He graduated summa cum laude with a 3.9 grade point average and was named the outstanding physical education student in his class at Plymouth State. Gittleson also lettered in three sports, football, wrestling and track and won the state weightlifting championship.

A Vietnam veteran, he later came to Michigan and completed a master’s degree in exercise science (1980) and earned the prestigious Paul Hunsicker Award as an outstanding graduate student at the University.

An adjunct lecturer in Sports Management and Communication for the Division of Kinesiology, Gittleson was honored with the distinction of becoming an “Honorary ‘M’ Man” in 1997.